Tom Hanks Producing a JFK Assassination Movie

Tom Hanks is one of the few Hollywood mega-stars we’d trust with our nation’s history. No offense, major A-listers, but handsome doesn’t always equal intelligent. But Hanks has flexed his obsessive interest in historical events in outstanding films and dramas series such as ‘Band of Brothers,’ ‘Saving Private Ryan’ and ‘Apollo 13.’ And a new report suggests Hanks is ready to tackle one of America’s top controversies: The JFK assassination.

Variety says Hanks and his Playtone partner Gary Goetzman will collaborate on ‘Parkland,’ an indie drama directed Peter Landesman that will focus on the events leading up to JFK’s murder, relying heavily on the footage captured by Abraham Zapruder.

The trade says the title refers to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where Kennedy was rushed after being shot on Nov. 22, 1963. Coincidentally, Lee Harvey Oswald died in Parkland two days after the assassination, suffering a gunshot wound from Jack Ruby.

It’s kind of insane that more films aren’t made about the JFK assassination, given the number of conspiracy theories that are floated (and debunked) on an annual basis. Hollywood probably could roll out an annual JFK movie, and audiences would flock.

Landesman will make his directorial debut on ‘Parkland.’ We’ll keep you posted on casting and a possible release date.